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Bravo to the Scorpions

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 06:58:25 GMT

Friday, November 07, 2008

Editor,

Please, allow me some space in your widely read newspaper to join HE the President of our dear Motherland, Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, in crying foul, aloud to CAF and or FIFA authorities for their effort in denying our gallant scorpions a well-earned qualification place to the Africa cup of nations.

As HE had stated in his exclusive interview with Mr Kebba Dibba of GRTS, it will be prudent to challenge the decision of the effort to deny our scorpions from being pronounced as qualified actors in the forth-coming international competitions in the African cup of nations; who knows may be God will help us qualify for the world cup as well.

Let CAF and FIFA be reminded that the FA cup in England and even the world cup in general is made more exciting by the participation of smaller teams who in competitions are potential giant killers. It is settled that any rule governing sport must be publicized to participants before the start of the tournament; otherwise such a rule is not in existence and so will be inoperative.

So CAF and or FIFA, I am sure you will not wait to be reminded that confidence in your impartiality as African and world football governing authorities respectively will without doubt be seriously questioned and marred if any wrong yardstick is used to eliminate giant killers from the tourneys even before they got going.

Bravo to the scorpions, the able coach, the caring President of the Republic of The Gambia, Alhaji Dr Yahya AJJ Jammeh and all fans and people and friends of The Gambia.

The road to the African cup of nations in South Africa 2010 should be open to us as we have already earned our place competitively and deservedly: So CAF and FIFA get it right and don’t keep us out by enforcing unpublicized, unknown and non-existing rules before the tournament; and include us as giant killers and do not exclude us: for fairness is a watch word to be spoken, breathed in every aspect of human existence and you (CAF and or FIFA) should be seen to be acting fairly and not unfairly to make opportunities and heroism to be attain in the sporting events you govern.

Momodou SM. Jallow (Aga)
Law student, UTG

Author: DO

Njogu Demba opts for operation

Wed, 29 Oct 2008 06:19:11 GMT

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

According to Gambia Sports Online, The Gambian and SK Brann athletic striker Njogu Demba-Nyrén has gone under the knife to cure a troublesome groin injury that he has being struggling with since his impressive performance for The Gambia in the 3-0 win over Liberia in the World Cup qualifier.

The powerful striker missed some key games for his Norwegian side both in European and domestic competitions but still opted to play through the pain during the Gambia’s World Cup game against neighbours Senegal last month.

“Demba has been on the sidelines for the past few weeks because of a groin problem and he will be operated on for a little weakness in the binding tissues to his groin channels," Brann doctor Ola Jøsendal said on the club’s website.

According to Jøsendal, the Gambian striker could be out for up to six weeks and would therefore miss the club’s remaining two games.

Meanwhile, Tijan Jaiteh came on as a 71st minute substitute for Hassan El Fakiri as Brann were held to a 1-1 home draw by third-place Tromso in the penultimate round of matches. Brann won the Norwegian Tippeliga last season but have surrendered their crown to Stabeak, who have already won the championship.

Author: by Nanama Keita

Nawettan Zones sweat for sponsors

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 07:02:55 GMT

Friday, October 24, 2008

As traditional sponsor, Western Union, makes a U-turn

The Gambia Football Association recognised nawettan zones within the Greater Banjul and Western Region are struggling through thick and thin to secure sponsors for their respective nawettan competitions after their traditional sponsor, Western Union, declared that it will not foot the bills this season.

The international money transfer institution had been sponsoring nawettan competitions in eight different zones; namely Banjul, Bakau, Brikama, Serrekunda West, Serrekunda East, Lamin, Sukuta and Gunjur for the past five years.

The package, which was specifically meant for the league competition only, used to include a cash amount of D35,000 (thirty five thousand dalasis) and two sets of jerseys for each zone.

In return for its gestures, the sponsored zones used to give the union publicity by displaying its banners within and around their community stadia during the league competitions.

However, it seems the mutually beneficial partnership will cease to exist this season, though nawettan competitions in almost all the zones are nearing climax.

Brikama are one of the zones that are yet to secure a sponsor after the withdrawal of Western Union, and their outspoken president, Lamin King Colley, has told Observer Sports that Western Union backed out at very bad time. He added that the league finals in some of the zones are nearing their final stages.

“Western Union withdrew at a very bad time. It happened at a time when we had increased our winners and runners-up prizes from D15,000 to D20,000 and D10,000 to D15,000 respectively,” Colley said

“They [Western Union] should have informed us [the nawettan zones] earlier, so that we would look for sponsors somewhere else.

Presently we are without a sponsor and it is a must that the league winners and runners-up be decorated.”

Amat Cham, public relations officer of Serrekunda West Sports Committee concurred with his Brikama colleague.

Cham said his committee, which is on its first-year term, started from ground zero after all the funds generated by their successors were handed over to the KMC sports committee.

“It’s indeed disappointing that Western Union will not be sponsoring the league this time around. We have a sponsor for the knock-out competition, but the league competition remains our concern though we are at an advanced stage of engaging EcoBank to rescue us,” he said.

Author: by Nanama keita

Latriya Set for Finals on Saturday

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 06:19:45 GMT

Monday, October 20, 2008

The long awaited, Seedy Kinteh sponsored, Nawettan in LatriyaVillage in Kombo North will be played on Saturday.

In an interview with Pointsports, the chairman of the Nawettan committee in Latriya, Momodou Sallah, said the final will be played between Latriya FC and YUNA. He said that the final between the two teams was suppose to be play earlier than this date but it was due to the Gambian national teams engagements in international competitions that the final was deferred.

Mr. Sallah stated that all the arrangements are in place for the day and it is expected to be graced by the sponsor The Gambia Football Association president Mr. Seedy M.B Kinteh

CDS General Lang Tombong Tamba, first Vice-president of GFA and the Secretary of State for Youth and Sports Sheriff Gomez and other dignitaries are expected to attend.

Author: Pa Modou Faal

Source: Picture: Seedy Kinteh (President of GFA)

Bakau nawettan round up

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 06:09:18 GMT

Monday, October 20, 2008

Katchically United came from behind to beat Five Junction FC 4-3 on penalty shoot-out as first round matches in the Bakau knock-out competition ended on Saturday.

After a lackluster performance from both sides in the first interval, Five Junction took the lead in the early second half through Samba Ndoye’s clinical finish. But Katchically rallied and pulled the needed equaliser in the dying minute before a spot kick was introduced to break the tie.

In other knock-out matches, Saul Samba emerged 1-0 winners against Bremen Border, while Ron Mango ease past Late F.M United with a similar score line.

Linguere also enjoyed a lone goal victory against Scan Tours FC, while Sea View beat Vidar FC 5-4 on penalties after a goalless draw in the regulations.

The knock-out quarter-final fixtures will resume after the league quarter-final matches, which will start on Tuesday, October 21, had been played.

Bantankoto remain the only Old Bakau side vying for both titles as New Town teams dominate in both competitions.

Author: by Nanama Keita

SoS Gomez: Enough for mere participation

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 04:35:30 GMT

Friday, September 05, 2008

Mr Sheriff Gomez, secretary of state for Youth and Sport has expressed his department’s dissatisfaction over the mere participation of Gambian sports men and women in an international competitions, calling on them to start competing for medals.

SoS Gomez revealed that his department wants to achieve excellent results in sports, and as such, he wants to see Gambian teams excel in international competitions rather than serving as mere participants.

The Youth and Sports supremo made these comments at the NYSS headquarters on Wednesday, during a day tour of institutions under his purview, and the remarks came barely a month when The Gambian athletics team returned empty-handed from another Olympic Games held in Beijing, China.

He said Gambia winning medals at international arena may take longer in the books, but was quick to add that his department wants to ensure that it happens in a shortest possible time, where commitment and dedication would be the key factors.

“We must provide strategic ideas geared towards achieving excellent in sports,’ said Gomez who however, expressed his delight at the trend of development registered in Gambian football so far. “Gambian footballers have started playing in major European leagues, notably the Premiership and we must nurture this trend. Other sporting disciplines must also ensure that they compete and win medals in international competitions,” he stressed.

Author: by Hatab Federa

With the Scorpions: All the way to glory

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 03:10:20 GMT

Thursday, September 04, 2008

This Saturday, The Gambia’s Scorpions battle it out with Liberia’s Lone Stars, in a footballing combat, the outcome of which weighs heavily in determining the country’s chances of making it to the World Cup and African Cup of Nations, two of the most celebrated of football competitions, slated for 2010. As it is often said in football circles these days, there are no underdogs.

Indeed, there are no underdogs. This means that spectators are anticipating quite an uphill task for the Scorpions. But we are also expecting victory, as the new generation of Gambian players have demonstrated too much talent on the football pitch. They’ve achieved so much, but there is a little bit more work to be done.

Having said this, if history can judge well, it was this very same country that made history, a few years ago, when it went on a spree of triumphant display; commencing from The Gambia itself, right up to Peru and Canada, in the World Cup finals.

That fantastic performance of our boys reaffirms the fact that nothing is impossible; but it also means that there are as much opportunities for our opponents as well, which requires more effort on the part of our much-trusted players and the technicians. Winning a game at any time is tremendous, it’s impossible to describe the pride in the achievement.

Nonetheless, the thought of the calibre of players we have also reinforces hope of making it through, by the grace of Allah, of course. All we have to do is to learn from past experiences. We surely did not just grab that cherished glory out of a vacuum; it cost us some form of support for the boys; support from the fans; support from the elders; support from the mosques and churches, support from the government; and even the support of the head of state himself. The country has never been so united as it was during those glorious moments of the darling U-17s. This is the spirit The Gambia, as a nation, is asking for.

As a footballing nation, we have never been short of fans; this is illustrated by the daily proliferation of fans clubs of individual players here or clubs there, yet sometimes our attitude towards these players and teams tend to serve as a deterrent to their performance.

What we lack is that ability to endure hardship, in terms of accepting defeat sometimes. Our attitude towards our players after competitions - whether they emerge victorious or not - to a great extent determines their performance in subsequent competitions.

The message for Gambians is that the breed of players we have currently is so fine that we are under a collective obligation to nurture it further.

Author: DO

Today is World Population Day

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 05:58:43 GMT

Friday, July 11, 2008

More than 140 countries worldwide will observe world population day today ,11 July 2008.

The theme of this year’s world population day is ‘ Family planning: It’s a right; let’s make it real’. The theme provides a chance to raise awareness of the many benefits of family planning, including its vital role in enhancing maternal health, gender equality and poverty reduction.

According to reports from the UNFPA, forty years after world leaders proclaimed that individuals have basic human right to determine freely and responsibly the number and spacing of their children Modern contraception remains out of reach for hundreds of millions of women and men. The report added that, this year’s World Population Day activities will vary in scope and nature, ranging from performances and exhibitions, to sports competitions, seminars and cultural events and all activities will have one common goal, which is to reaffirm the right of people to plan their family size, thereby helping to make this right real.

In his World Population Day message, Ban Ki-Moon, the United Nations secretary-general said that studies show that family planning has immediate benefits for the lives and health of mothers and their infants. He urged people to focus on the critical importance of family planning if the Millennium Development Goals are to be successfully achieved .

He said “let us take action to reduce maternal mortality and achieve universal access to reproductive health by 2015. Let us devote greater attention and resources to the work, to improve the health and quality of life for all people,” the UN boos emphasised.

In a separate message, Thoraya Ahmed Obald, executive director of the United Nations Population Funds said that, family planning is essential to women’s empowerment and gender equality. “When a woman can plan her family,, she can plan the rest of her life” said Ms Obaid.

According to her, family planning is also an effective means in the fight against poverty, adding that parents can plan ahead and devote more of their resources to the education and health of each child.

Author: by Asanatou Bojang

Gambia maintain good stand in rankings

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 03:59:38 GMT

Thursday, July 03, 2008

The Gambia Scorpions maintained a fairly good position in world and african rankings according to the latest list issued by the football's world governing body, Fifa.

The Scorpions slightly slipped from 17th to 21st position in June 2008 African rankings that are determined by taking into account the current performance of nations, with previous results gradually reducing in importance.

The Gambia made their best ever move in April 2008, when they leapt from 25th to 16th and 102nd to 83rd position in African and global rankings respectively.

The Scorpions current stand is a reflection of their heroic displays\ in recent FIFA/CAF competitions.

They are currently in frame to qualify for their first-ever Nations Cup finals in Angola 2010, after collecting five points in their first three matches.

The team lie third in Group 6, which is led by Senegal on eight points, while Algeria are second on six points.

The Lone Star of Liberia whose dream is all but over, lie at the bottom-rock after picking only two points in three matches.

Meanwhile, Cameroon remain the top-ranked side in Africa. The Indomitable Lions are still ranked at 13 in the world, with new European Champions Spain the new number one nation.

Ghana remain the second best side in Africa but drop four places to number 20 in the world. There were some big African movers on the global rankings after a month of 2010 World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Swaziland leapt 38 places overall and Cape Verde are up from 109th to 85th.

But the biggest movers are Burkina Faso, their 100% record in the 2010 qualifiers so far has taken them from 111th in the world to 64th - a move of 47 places.

See page 26 for June 2008 African ranking

Author: by Nanama Keita

Nusrat Science and Technology Week opens

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 05:15:03 GMT

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Nusrat Senior Secondary School in partnership with Africell, yesterday opened a week-long celebration of the Nusrat Science and Technology Week on the theme ‘accelerating science and technology” at a ceremony held at the school premises in Bundung.

Speaking at the opening, K.S Bojang, principal of Nusrat High School stated that the importance of such an event cannot be over-emphasised. He stated that the contribution of science to the world today is colossal and immeasurable. He commended Nusrat and Africell for coming up with such an initiative which he added, will surely accelerate science and technology in The Gambia to further move closer to realising the dream of attaining the Silicon Valley.

He congratulated Africell for sponsoring the week long event with D100,000, 300 sim cards and phones among other supportive incentives for the successful hosting of the event.

He then confirmed that the school has now taken up science as a field of study and ICT as a tool for research and development. “The school also provided free internet services to students to further ensure that they have all ICT accessories to their disposal” he said.

For his part, Njundu Fatty, managing director of Lasting Solutions who was the guest speaker, described IT as a very wide and broad area which has all information systems under its umbrella, such as computers, internet, television, radio and mobile phones among others.

He then tagged the area as a growing field in The Gambia which is emerging as a very strong and dynamic force in the country’s economy and social sphere.

Examining the importance of ICT to The Gambia’s economy today, Mr Fatty noted that at least four banks have ATM services which are very convenient, along with the advent of internet and SMS banking which are all made possible by ICT systems.

On the telecoms sector, he remarked “we currently have 3 GSM providers who are all making great impacts the ICT due to the healthy competition existing”. He advised students to make use of the available opportunity to develop the necessary IT expertise required for development.

The week long celebration sponsored by Africell will be characterised by debates between various schools, quiz competitions, subject and research presentations by students and a march pass by students.

Author: by Ebrima Jatta